Global study predicts food safety issues of the future

Food in Canada

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Right through to 2020, researchers predict that food safety will remain consumers’ number-1 concern.

That’s one of the conclusions made after the results of a study by JohnsonDiversey Inc. were released during the 2010 Global Food Safety Conference in Washington, D.C. in early February.

The study had 37 questions, was sent to 3,900 upper-level employees in several sectors, including foodservice, manufacturing, retail, government and NGOs. The survey had a nine per cent response rate and responses came from 53 countries around the world.

Predictions

From the responses, researchers say three food safety areas emerged where respondents believe they will have issues to deal with in 2020:

The speakers at the conference said building a culture of food safety in your organization; and harmonizing standards, audits and auditor competence are key.

So is supply chain management. As one speaker noted: “We need to build partnerships not just relationships, but true partnerships with our suppliers to truly understand where those ingredients, where those finished products are originating from and to make sure that they’re appropriate in terms of food safety.”